On August 3, 1930 we departed Paris by bus at 7:15 AM enroute to
the cemetery where Leo is buried.
Along the way we drove through many beautiful little villages - all
still showing signs of the ravages of war. Two of the towns we went
through before reaching Montmirail were Meaux and La
Ferte-sous-Jouarre. On the way back from the cemetery we again
passed through the little village of La Ferte-sous-Jouarre.

La Ferte-sous-Jouarre

Arrived at Montmirail at 10:00 AM and
had a rest stop at Hotel du Vert Galant.

Arrived in Chalons-Sur-Marne at 1:00PM and had a late lunch at the
Hotel Haute-Mere-Dieu

Our escort has informed us that it was here in this village the
French government’s Unknown Soldier and also the Unknown Soldier for
America were selected.

Historical Note: The
Unknown WWI Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery: On
October 22, 1921, one Unknown from four American
military cemeteries (Aisne-Marne, Meuse-Argonne, Somme
and St. Mihiel Cemeteries) was selected from among the
Unknowns “which represented the remains of soldiers of
which there was absolutely not the slightest indication
as to name, rank, organization or date of death.” (from
Quartermaster report that can be read at:
http://www.qmfound.com/soldier_unknown.htm) The
four Unknowns were disinterred and brought to the town
hall in Chalons-sur-Marne (today Chalons-en-Champagne)
where they were given full military honors. One of the
pallbearers, Sergeant Edward F. Younger – a decorated
infantryman – was asked to place a white rose on one of
the caskets in the town hall. Once the selection process
was completed, the three remaining Unknowns were brought
to the Meuse-Argonne American Cemetery and interred in
Plot G, Row 1, Grave numbers 1, 2, and 3 (also from
Quartermaster report). Each of their graves is marked
with: “Here rests in Honored Glory an American Soldier
Known but to God”. They, along with all the other
Unknown Soldiers of all wars, found the chance of battle
to be doubly against them. They were fated to die and
lose even their names in addition to their lives.

Arrived Sainte Meinhould at 4:15 PM and had a rest stop at the Modern Hotel.

We arrived
in Verdun at 6:15 PM, had dinner and were lodged at
various
hotels in the city.

Verdun was
severally bombarded during the war and was almost destroyed.
Rebuilding is still going on.

Will go to the Meuse-Argonne American
Cemetery tomorrow to visit Leo’s grave.